Toni Reavis proposes two ideas to save the 2020 Boston Marathon

I love it. Let's see both. See if any of the relay teams can keep up with the elites.

Ok, so pros and cons. Are marathons only on to make money for the organisers or charities? Can similar amounts be paid to attract elites if only they run? Are broadcast rights and course signage enough?

How does does the second idea social distance more than the regular marathon? It seems like more healthcare workers who sit around all day doing nothing while everyone else is not paid earn more undue fuel for their egos.

I doubt they can fund a good elite race without earnings from the other runners.

I am intrigued by the idea of holding both and seeing if any combo of relay runners can compete with the elites.

Can pro sports really make money if they play in empty areanas/stadiums?

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old shoe wrote:
Can pro sports really make money if they play in empty areanas/stadiums?

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jesseriley wrote:
I have to believe Boston is in contact with marathons in countries where the leaders aren’t complete idiots, unlike USA. They’ll probably all institute similar programs, unless trump bans sanity or something.

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I assume that an "elite-only" race would have a very small, unpaced, international-caliber field. That's just about the only kind of race that interests me these days, so maybe it would be fun to watch, although I suspect that Toni may be underestimating the local resistance to such a race. (It was that kind of local resistance that held up the BAA's move to appearance fees and prize money in the mid-1980s.) Also, I'm not convinced that there would be great enthusiasm from the general viewing public or the local business community. And I'm not convinced that many people care about keeping the marathon's streak of annual races intact; I would expect more people to be upset that their own streaks of participation in the annual race would come to an end.

I really hate the second idea. I would have to quarantine myself from the relentlessly saccharine coverage of the event. Sorry, Toni.

It shouldn't be that difficult to attract elites if there are no other marathons for the elites to choose from.

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Aussiestatman wrote:
Ok, so pros and cons. Are marathons only on to make money for the organisers or charities? Can similar amounts be paid to attract elites if only they run? Are broadcast rights and course signage enough?

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We really need to stop listening to elite runners, broadcasters and Web site owners who don't actually care about the race they're in, and only care whether they get an event to attend or watch. Neither of these suggestions make sense, ans again, Rojo should be embarrassed for promoting it. The Boston Marathon is an enormous community event that generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the towns, not a trials race.

I would think medical personnel have more trying issues than running a stupid relay at this time .

An asinine suggestion.

ALL OF WHAT FOLLOWS is predicated on the ruling that runners, elites or relay participants, will be allowed to be closer than six feet from fellow competitors. If not, then there won’t be a race. It would be impractical to require real social distancing for participants. It would also be impractical that masks be mandatory for runners. There are different academic opinions on how the virus might be spread in the air by hard-breathing athletes and whether, for safety, runners would require something more like a 30 foot separation from other competitors, and spectators, drink table volunteers, etc.

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For obvious reasons, conceiving of a Boston Marathon event during the pandemic would - should - shove all conventional thought out the window. Just as comprehension that a field of 30,000 or so would have to be disallowed, so there would have to be a fundamental acceptance by the organizers that the almighty dollar bottom line would have to be millions? short of normal. Can a race financially be arranged? Hopefully, yes, and maybe it would require an infusion of money from Boston, Brookline, Newton, Framingham, etc., governments (but I'm not in the know, so arranging for this might be much harder than I can imagine). Could it be arranged in the short term, for September 14th (the stated target date at this time), for example? I don’t know, but organizers have a way of pulling off seemingly impossible assignments.

Yes, some revenue would be important, and it could still be a sure result (I don't know...after, say, securing an ESPN contract), but the most important goal would be to hold some sort of official race. An elite field would stir general interest, and a host of elite runners presumably would flock to Boston for a chance, despite any personal concerns of infection. Maybe, given the unique constraints brought about due to the pandemic, elites would not be offered funny money to participate.

I still imagine that many elites – possibly not nearly as many truly elite runners as in a normal year – would still want a shot at bagging a Boston win. There would still be undeniable prestige in winning the Boston Marathon. Look at Yuki Kawauchi, who won in 2019 when he would not have likely stood a chance, had the weather been more favorable. Still, forever and ever, he is a Boston Marathon champ. Even without a monetary reward equal to Yuki’s, I am guessing that there would be plenty of elite men who dream of winning Boston, be it in 2:03:02 (Geoffrey Mutai’s record, 2011) or 2:15:58 (Yuki’s winning time). And plenty of elite women who would love to be champ, whether in 2:19:59 (Buzunesh Deba, 2014) or 2:39:54 (Desi Linden’s 2019 winning time in the horrible conditions).

A relay competition would tug at the heartstrings of viewers, listeners, and readers. Who can deny the significance and selflessness of medical professionals during this crisis? I certainly am humbled by the noble efforts of people who think of the welfare of others, despite potential risks to themselves - and their families when they go home. The issue I have with Tony's proposal is the fact that medical professionals are not the only ones who put their own safety on the line in this ongoing pandemic horror. Thus, I'd like to see others, like first responders and even grocery store workers, added to the relay.

Naturally, choosing entrants could not be fair. There could be no trials to pick the relay participants. So be it! And who cares if the times would be less than relay teams could muster if this were a regular event? It's the spotlight upon what these folks are doing, day after day, while most of us hide safely at home, which would be most important, and most inspiring to outsiders looking in.

Any team would still be comprised of real athletes whose training and racing are serious, even if they don’t hold a candle to the cream of the crop elites in terms of talent. Nobody would want to look foolish out there - or be allowed to - in such an important event.

The relay exchanges could be set up so that there is no direct handoff, which would otherwise violate the six-foot rule.

I think it would be relatively easy to screen the relay participants to ensure that those who race really are "in the trenches" regarding COVID-19. In other words, screening out, say, an administrator who works from home would be essential. And relatively easy - I think.

Admittedly, I don't know the realities of successfully planning a unique event for this upcoming September 14th, but I imagine it could be done. As in every aspect of our lives these days, it would be up to the general public to abide by the rules of social distancing in doing their part to allow the race to take place.

Fingers crossed! Some form of the prestigious Boston Marathon, if it could materialize safely, would be inspiring to me.

To those stick-in-the-muds who sneer at the thought of any substitute for the real 30,000-plus-entry race, please continue your sneering confined to home, because nobody wants to catch whatever ailment brings you down.

As much as I love the Boston Marathon, I can’t imagine it happening this year. Events in October have already been cancelled. Neither of these proposals mentions how to deal with the crowds that inevitably line the course. Also I can’t imagine the towns along the course shutting down without the usual financial remuneration (admittedly meager) that they typically receive. Where is the money coming from? This event has a huge position financial impact on the area. There is no financial incentive for a smaller footprint.

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out of touch nobody wrote:
I would think medical personnel have more trying issues than running a stupid relay at this time .

An asinine suggestion.

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Kvothe wrote:

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Aussiestatman wrote:
Ok, so pros and cons. Are marathons only on to make money for the organisers or charities? Can similar amounts be paid to attract elites if only they run? Are broadcast rights and course signage enough?

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Its not just about the race. Hotels, local restaurants, the companies at the expo all depend on the marathon.

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out of touch nobody wrote:
I would think medical personnel have more trying issues than running a stupid relay at this time .

An asinine suggestion.

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Hurricane Sandy stopped New York because locals thought it distracted from the hurricane recovery. Even thought it didn't.

Boston will be the same. No way it will be allowed unless we are in the clear to run it as normal.

I am writing about running in the time of Covid-19 for the next issue of New England Runner. When it comes out I will post a link to the magazine's website with the story. I am the guy who wrote the book on it and made the movie so have thought a lot about this problem. We may have to get used to the idea that running may never be the same. It is a serious problem but we can see some humor in all the possibilities of running in the time of Covid-19. Who will set the world's record for running a marathon in a mask? Should it match your singlet or your shorts?

Tom